Borders trio make food-lovers’ shortlist

Born in the Borders move their local produce store to a larger premises. Tweedside Honey selling produce.

Published:06:25Saturday 18 April 2015

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Three Borders businesses have been shortlisted for the coveted Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, it was announced this week.

Showcasing the strength of the region’s natural resources, the local finalists are: Peelham Charcuterie (Berwickshire) in the Meat category; Born in the Borders (Jedburgh) in the Scottish Sourcing category; and John Campbell OBE of Glenrath Farms (Peebleshire) in the Scottish Food & Drink Entrepreneur category.

The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards is considered by many to be the food-lovers’ event of the year.

The awards include nine product categories, judged mainly by taste, plus a wide range of business awards which include Environmental Sustainability, Scottish Sourcing and Investing in People, in addition to an award recognising Young Talent in the industry.

A record-breaking 239 entries were received for the awards, up from 153 in 2014. In the course of their assessment of the award applications, the retail and foodservice judging panel tasted 161 product entries during a two-day tasting session, examining submissions from 116 businesses across Scotland.

Broadcaster Kaye Adams will announce the winners of the awards at Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland on May 27.

Chief executive of Scotland Food & Drink, James Withers, said: “The Excellence Awards recognise the incredible quality that Scotland’s food and drink industry has to offer, the outstanding achievements of individuals and businesses, as well as the high standard of our products and the level of innovation we’re seeing across the sector.

“The shortlist recognises big businesses as well as smaller, artisan producers, ranging from new to long-established.”